Dodgers: Billingsley recently had a flashback to 2006, when he ran up his pitch counts in short starts that taxed the bullpen. That's exactly what happened in his most recent start against the Phillies, when he needed 113 pitches to get through only five innings, even though the bullpen had been abused the previous night. Billingsley escaped with a no-decision, but injuries have made him the third starter by default and the club needs more than five innings from him.

Astros: Sampson pitched convincingly in his last outing, holding the Nationals to two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 win. He yielded two solo homers but recorded 14 groundball outs and was typically efficient. Sampson has pitched at least six innings in 11 of his past 12 outings, but he's exceeded the 100-pitch mark only three times this year.

Billingsley is in trouble in the fifth, giving up a single and then walking the eight-hole (Bruntlett) on four pitches. Sampson is replaced by a PH who flies out, and by the Gameday look of things, Gonzo was at the base of the left-field wall. One out, men on first and second.